RECENT READ | Doctor Who Time Lord Fairy Tales

27 January 2016

If you're a fan of fairytales and Doctor Who, then you'll love this gem of a book.

Ever since I was younger, I've had a big fat love for fairytales - Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, all of them. And now I'm also a fan of the BBC sci-fi show Doctor Who. So, when I saw that the book Doctor Who Time Lord Fairy Tales existed, I knew I had to get myself a copy.

It's a book I judged purely by the cover. I saw the detailed illustrated cover in a gorgeous Instagram photo; I quickly screen shot it and sent the picture to my friends saying 'if you're stuck on what to get me this Christmas, buy me this book'. I was completely joking with them; I wasn't expecting anyone to get it for me, but my friend Sarah ended up surprising me with the hardback copy one evening back in December.

I screamed and fangirled for ages before flicking through the pages, glancing at the beautiful pictures, feeling the quality paper. I began reading the book that night, and finished the first fairytale in a heartbeat. This is one of those rare times that judging a book by its cover ended up being a good thing.

Doctor Who Time Lord Fairy Tales is a whimsical collection of fifteen fairytales, all retold with Doctor Who twists. Slitheen, Cybermen, Sontarans and more creatures from the 'Whoniverse' are woven into classic tales of knights, witches and dark forests. The book is a nice, easy read, ideal to lose yourself in before hitting the hay. Justin Richards is a genius in creating such a clever anthology of captivating, twisted fairytales for Doctor Who fans, young and old. The enchanting illustrations by David Wardle add to the book's magic.

I only found one con to this book; a very small amount of the stories were a little bit pointless and tedious to read. But most were fast-paced and exciting. Even though the fairytales are well known, the twists made them fresh and modern.

I enjoyed reading Cinderella and the Magic Box, Little Rose Riding Hood, and Helena and the Beast the most - ultimately because they all feature the Doctor himself. There will be some fairytales that you'll prefer more than others, but overall it's a fun read.

I'll definitely be returning to this sweet book to re-read some of its fairytales and escape to the Time Lord world of legends and myths. I recommend any DW fanatic to pick up this quirky book to add to their shelf... and to their Instagram page!